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Electric hydrofoil ferry begins trials in Orkney

Rob Flett
BBC Scotland News
Colin Keldie/EMEC A bright blue electric boat called Zevi 1 sits on top of a wheeled metal trolley on dry landColin Keldie/EMEC
The boat could reduce travel times significantly

A small, electric passenger ferry is beginning a three-year trial in Orkney.

The vessel uses new hydrofoil technology and could cut travel times between islands significantly.

The ferry has been built by Artemis Technologies in Belfast and the £15m trial is part of the Electric Orkney project - funded by the UK government's Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure (Zevi) fund.

If it is approved to carry passengers, the ferry will operate from Kirkwall to the islands of Shapinsay, Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre.

Colin Keldie/EMEC A small ferry being lifted by a crane from the deck towards a harbour with shimmering blue waterColin Keldie/EMEC
A three-year trial of the vessel is beginning in Orkney

Orkney Ferries will begin testing the 12m (39ft) ferry this week to see how it performs in the sea conditions around the islands.

The hydrofoil technology lifts the hull of the vessel above the water, enabling it to travel at high speed.

If the Zevi boat performs well it is expected to begin carrying passengers later this summer.

"This is a trial and we need to find out how well this new technology will work here," said Orkney Islands councillor Melissa Thomson, who chairs Orkney Ferries.

"We are very hopeful this could be a game-changer for faster travel between the islands if things go well."

Colin Keldie/EMEC A small ferry viewed from above being lifted by a crane on dock at harbourColin Keldie/EMEC
The ferry could start taking passengers later this summer

Service manager for Orkney Ferries, Eddie Barclay, said the Zevi boat would be put through its paces by experienced local mariners for the next two months.

"We need to see how it performs in different sea states and conditions," he said.

"The waters around Orkney can be challenging so it will certainly test her handling capabilities."

A second larger hydrofoil vessel is due to arrive in the islands at the end of this year.

A new fast electric charger is being installed at Kirkwall's harbour which will charge the Zevi's batteries in about one hour.

The electric hydrofoil is a high-tech addition to Orkney's ferry fleet, but it does not remove the urgent need to replace the islands' ageing internal ferries.

Its arrival coincided with the latest meeting of the Scottish government's internal ferry replacement taskforce for the area.

It is currently chaired by Finance Secretary Shona Robison who welcomed the arrival the electric ferry.

The Scottish government has contributed £3m towards supporting the Zevi trial and also the council's business case for new ferries.

Ms Robison said the local authority had plans to introduce eight new vessels in total which would help both tourism and the local community.